U.S. patent application number 11/201725 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-16 for pythons.
Invention is credited to Robert Prentice Beckett.
Application Number | 20060032545 11/201725 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35045310 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060032545 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beckett; Robert Prentice |
February 16, 2006 |
Pythons
Abstract
A liquid-conducting python has a plurality of liquid-conducting
tubes surrounded by foam insulation. At least a portion of the
outer surface of the foam insulation is patterned to form a
segmented surface.
Inventors: |
Beckett; Robert Prentice;
(County Down, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH;ATTN: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
ONE LOGAN SQUARE
18TH AND CHERRY STREETS
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-6996
US
|
Family ID: |
35045310 |
Appl. No.: |
11/201725 |
Filed: |
August 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
138/149 ;
138/103; 138/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 59/021 20130101;
F16L 59/153 20130101; F16L 11/22 20130101; B67D 1/0867
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
138/149 ;
138/111; 138/103 |
International
Class: |
F16L 9/14 20060101
F16L009/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 14, 2004 |
GB |
0418206.9 |
Dec 20, 2004 |
GB |
0427773.7 |
Claims
1. A liquid-conducting python having a plurality of
liquid-conducting tubes surrounded by foam insulation, wherein at
least a portion of the outer surface of the foam insulation is
patterned to form a segmented surface.
2. A liquid-conducting python as claimed in claim 1, wherein
substantially the whole outer surface of the foam insulation is
patterned to form a segmented surface.
3. A liquid-conducting python as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
segmented surface is applied to the insulation by a pattern forming
process to the insulation, such as embossing.
4. A liquid-conducting python as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
segmented surface is formed on the surface of the foam insulation
by braiding.
5. A liquid-conducting python as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
braiding is in the form of thin cord, line or thread-like material
provided in a crossed or weaved manner around the foam
insulation.
6. A liquid-conducting python as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising an outer layer formed by tape or a continuous coating
process.
7. A process for forming a liquid-conducting python comprising the
steps of surrounding a plurality of liquid-conducting tubes with a
layer of foam insulation, wherein at least a portion of the outer
surface of the insulation is patterned to form a segmented
surface.
8. A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein substantially the whole
outer surface of the layer of foam insulation is patterned to form
a segmented surface.
9. A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the segmented surface
is applied to the insulation layer, either before or after applying
the layer of insulation around the plurality of liquid-conducting
tubes, by a pattern forming process to the layer of insulation,
such as embossing.
10. A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the segmented surface
is formed by applying a braid of thin cord, line or thread-like
material in a crossed or weaved manner around the layer of
insulation.
11. A process as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of
forming an outer layer or covering over the layer of
insulation.
12. A process as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer layer
comprises tape, preferably formed from a suitable polymeric
material such as PVC, or a continuous coating of a suitable
polymeric material, such as PVC.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements relating to
pythons.
[0002] Pythons are products used in the beverage industry, although
not limited thereto, for transferring drinks such as beers and
lagers from kegs to bar taps.
[0003] In a common layout of many licensed premises, kegs of brew
are stored in temperature controlled conditions, such as a cellar,
and the brew is delivered through flexible tubes to the bar taps.
Each brew must be separately and discreetly delivered to effect
this, and to keep control over the temperature from the keg to the
tap, the liquid-conducting tubes can be bundled together with one
or more coolant or refrigerant tubes or lines, and this bundle of
tubes surrounded by foam insulation. This collection of tubes or
foam insulation in known in the art as a python.
[0004] An example of forming a python is shown in UK Patent No
2166833.
[0005] Around the insulation is commonly added a final layer of PVC
tape or PVC or other polymer coating, so as to provide protection
to the insulation, and to provide a smooth and nicely finished
product look when straight.
[0006] This outer layer is tightly fitted. However, this has led to
several disadvantages, generally based on how pythons are used. One
issue in the use of pythons is that they are located and have to be
pulled through holes and ducts in the walls and floors of bars and
restaurants, and the stiff and tight nature of the outer layer
results in the effort of pulling a python through these ducts and
around various corners and bends to be very high, often causing
injury. The effort is increased where a second python is intended
to be located along the same pathway, and thus must be pulled
against the surface of the first python. The nature of this effort
leads to increased installation time, which is not desired.
[0007] A further issue with current pythons is that when these are
bent into a tight radius, as is often desired in the intended but
hidden pathway of the python through a bar or restaurant, the outer
layer can ripple, with large ripples or folds providing the
opportunity for condensation to collect in the fold on the python,
or for heat gain.
[0008] One further disadvantage with current pythons is that,
because of the nature of the rubber and foam insulation, they can
easily deform by being crushed, especially if left in storage for a
long time. The deformation could be by their own weight if stored
in a coiled manner, which is naturally also the most convenient
method of transporting such products. Thus, a product delivered to
a customer but not immediately used or left in storage, can render
the product of bad quality.
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to obviate these
disadvantages.
[0010] Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a liquid-conducting python having a plurality of
liquid-conducting tubes surrounded by foam insulation, wherein at
least a portion of the outer surface of the foam insulation is
patterned to form a segmented surface. Preferably substantially the
whole outer surface of the foam insulation is patterned to form a
segmented surface.
[0011] By forming a segmented surface, there is a significant
reduction of friction in the passing of one python over another, in
a manner similar to the scales of a snake. Secondly, the segmented
pattern provides pre-formed crease lines, which are ready to aerate
the outer surface of the python when arched. Thirdly, the segmented
nature of the python provides increased strength to the python, and
thus better crush resistance over time.
[0012] The pattern can be any regular or irregular shape, surface
or design. It can be applied by a pattern forming process to the
insulation, such as embossing, or be formed on the insulation by
one or more separate means.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment the segmented surface is formed on
the surface of the foam insulation by braiding. Preferably the
braiding is in the form of thin cord, line or thread-like material
provided in a crossed or weaved manner around the foam
insulation.
[0014] The python can deliver any number or nature of liquids,
including but not limited to beverages such as beers and
lagers.
[0015] Preferably, the python has an outer layer such as a coating
formed by tape or a continuous coating process. The layer could be
added prior to patterning of the insulation, although preferably it
is added after patterning.
[0016] The insulation may be partly, substantially or completely
patterned, more preferably completely patterned.
[0017] According to a second aspect of the present invention there
is provided a process for forming a liquid-conducting python
comprising the steps of surrounding a plurality of
liquid-conducting tubes with a layer of foam insulation, wherein at
least a portion of the outer surface of the insulation is patterned
to form a segmented surface. Preferably substantially the whole
outer surface of the layer of foam insulation is patterned to form
a segmented surface.
[0018] The segmented surface may be applied to the insulation
layer, either before or after applying the layer of insulation
around the plurality of liquid-conducting tubes, by a pattern
forming process to the layer of insulation, such as embossing.
[0019] Preferably the segmented surface is formed by applying a
braid of thin cord, line or thread-like material in a crossed or
weaved manner around the layer of insulation. The braiding can be
applied by a braiding machine, which machines are well known in the
art.
[0020] The process may further comprise the step of forming an
outer layer or covering over the layer of insulation. The outer
layer may comprise tape, preferably formed from a suitable
polymeric material such as PVC, or a continuous coating of a
suitable polymeric material, such as PVC.
[0021] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described
by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying
diagrammatic drawing, FIG. 1, which shows a cross-sectional
perspective view of a python according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0022] Referring to the drawing, there is shown a
beverage-conducting python 2 having a plurality of
beverage-conducting tubes 4 surrounded by a layer of foam
insulation 6. With the beverage-conducting tubes 4 there are two
refrigerant lines 8. Refrigerant passing up and down the
refrigerant lines 8 provides a cooling effect to the
beverage-conducting tubes 4. All the tubes 4, 8 can be surrounded
by a first tape or coating prior to surrounding by the foam
insulation 6. A method and manufacture of such a python is shown in
UK Patent No 2166833.
[0023] Around the foam insulation 6, there are a number of lines of
thread 10 formed in a criss-cross regular pattern around the foam
insulation 6 in a manner which provides the outer surface of the
foam insulation 6 in the form of a snake-skin pattern. The threads
10 can be added by a braiding machine in a manner well know in the
art.
[0024] Around the braiding 10 and foam insulation layer 6, there
would be applied a final outer layer, made from PCV or other
suitable plastic tape, or a polymer coating. This layer is not
shown in FIG. 1 for the purposes of illustrating the braiding. This
layer, being tight-fitting, would take the braided-patterned shape
thereunder. Thus, still providing the final python product with the
patterned surface.
[0025] In use, the python 2 has a regularly patterned surface in
the form of a snake skin pattern. This reduces the coefficient of
friction against other surfaces, including the surfaces of other
pythons, thereby making easier the installation of such pythons
along their pathways from a location of beverages, such as kegs in
a cellar, to their points of delivery, such as taps at a bar. The
pathway can be significantly convoluted, with a number of twists
and turns and bends, noting meanwhile that the pythons must be
continuous and can therefore only be located by being fed from one
end of the pathway to the other. With a number of
beverage-conducting lines therein, and with expected thickness of
the foam insulation, the pythons can be relatively inflexible
compared with a single piece of tubing or wire. Thus, the ability
to reduce friction in the locating of a first or a second python
significantly eases their installation.
[0026] Secondly, the braiding provides increased strength around
the foam insulation by being able to transfer load. Thus, the
storage of a formed python where weight is resting thereon, such as
a coiled python, does not result in crushing of the foam
installation and therefore reduction of quality of the python.
[0027] Thirdly, lines created by the braiding provide initial
crease or fold lines when the python is arched, as well as lines
for the continuous aeration around the complete surface of the
python over any bend or twist, thereby reducing the likelihood of a
concealed or trapped surfaces, which can attract condensation, or
not properly provide correct insulation.
[0028] The braiding acts to compress the foam insulation, and thus
the tension with which the braiding is applied to the foam
insulation can be used to reduce the overall diameter of the python
to a required size. Accordingly, the present invention enables a
single size of foam insulation to be used to create pythons having
a variety of different overall diameters.
[0029] The application of braiding over the foam insulation also
permits the use of foam insulation in the form of a flat sheet of
material that can be wrapped around the beverage conducting tubes,
the braiding holding the foam insulation in place. Such provides
cost savings over known pythons which lack the securing effect of
the braiding and thus require the use of pre-formed tubular foam
insulation, such material being more costly to produce than a
simple flat sheet.
[0030] The present invention provides a simple but effective
improvement to pythons in a simple form of manufacture thereof,
which will result in a number of significant advantages over
existing pythons.
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